Courtroom Gear-Kit and Stuff
We hot-seaters have probably seen it all: the perfect courtroom setup, and the patchwork of old government AV equipment held together with duct tape. Over the years I’ve put together a small collection of gear that gets me through most of the courtrooms I enter. There’s always the possibility of a bigger issue this kit can’t fix, but a workaround has always been found.
VGA and Analogue Audio Systems
- 3.5mm audio gender benders — extend the reach of a courtroom’s built-in audio cable. Most courts are set up to present from counsel table, and that’s not always where a trial tech wants to sit.
- Audio cable, various lengths — from a few inches to 25 feet. They don’t take up much space and a gender bender is useless without one.
- Earbuds (I carry two pairs) — I gave up on expensive headphones after losing a set of Bose on a red-eye. Cheap earbuds are perfect for creating clips on the fly.
- Audio switch — connect the laptop, earbuds, and court system; flip a switch to send audio to the court or your ears without a pop. A lifesaver for building clips on the fly.
- VGA gender benders — worth their weight in gold for extending VGA cables or changing connector gender, since most courts present from counsel table.
- Spare VGA cables — not all VGA cable is created equal, especially at higher resolutions. A good cable has saved 1080p presentations more than once.
- Gaffer’s tape — don’t cheap out here. Bad tape either won’t stick or leaves glue on the floor. Always remove it (holding the cable end down) before pulling up the cable. You’ll thank yourself later.
I also travel with my own monitor, VGA distribution amp, and VGA switch (all tested at the courtroom’s presentation resolution) and present with dual monitors and redundant laptops.
HDMI Setups
This is the next-generation courtroom: the one where the designer had the “great” idea of only providing HDMI. I haven’t had the misfortune of presenting in one yet, but I’m researching so I’m ready when it happens.
HDMI-only setups take away the flexibility of separate video/audio line feeds. I like my analogue audio switch. It lets me create and review clips in court without the whole room hearing what I’m doing.
- VGA-to-HDMI converter with audio — lets me keep using my VGA switches and DAs instead of relying on the laptop’s digital HDMI-out (which would need an audio extractor and re-injection). Plug it in and go.
- EDID emulator — when a manufacturer adds security to a device, someone will find a way around it, and HDMI is no exception. This provides the court system with a continuous Extended Display Identification Data signal, helping prevent handshake issues between laptop and court system. I’ve used older DVI versions of this on HTPCs for years.
Stuff That Just Makes Life Easier
- PSU / docking station — either extra power supplies or a dock; either way it makes packing a breeze.
- PowerPoint remote with a green laser pointer — how did anyone live without this? The remote is great and the green pointer actually works.
- USB thumb drives, several — attorneys love to “forget” they borrowed one. They’re cheap now. Remember back in 2000 when they cost around $50 and held 8MB?
And there you have it: my courtroom gear-kit. I’d love to hear what others carry, whether for the same reasons or different challenges that have come up along the way.